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Description

The marine biology major is designed to prepare students for a career or further graduate study. The curriculum consists of a set of core courses in the biological and physical sciences, leading to a degree that is designed as a solid basis for entering the field of marine biology, as well as preparation for further graduate study in this area. A dual admission combined bachelor's-master's program with the Oceanographic Center is available for select, qualified students. Information on this program can be obtained from the undergraduate Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

The marine biology major is offered during the day on NSU’s main campus.

Learning Outcomes

A successful marine biology graduate is expected to:

1. Understand basic scientific principles and methods;
2. Understand basic biology that incorporates more specific knowledge of marine organisms and habitats;
3. Appreciate the work of scientists who have contributed to marine biology and oceanography;
4. Demonstrate knowledge about the global variety of marine community types and their relationships with each other and terrestrial systems;
5. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of local marine flora and fauna and community types;
6. Demonstrate a working understanding of the wide variety of marine organisms from the phylogenetic, physiological, zoogeographical and ecological perspectives;
7. Understand anthropogenic threats to marine species diversity and marine ecosystem structure;
8. Understand the physical and chemical structure of the world’s oceans;
9. Demonstrate skills in statistical analysis and interpretation, specifically pertaining to science and marine biology;
10. Demonstrate technical skills related to the use of computer programs such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
11. Demonstrate oral presentation skills.

Curriculum Requirements

General Education Requirements (30 credits)

Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program.

Marine Biology Major Requirements (55–61 credits)

Core Courses (36 credits)
BIOL 3200 General Ecology/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3300 Invertebrate Zoology/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3600 Genetics/Lab (4 credits)
CHEM 1300 General Chemistry I/Lab (4 credits)
CHEM 1310 General Chemistry II/Lab (4 credits)
MBIO 2410 Marine Biology and Lab (4 credits)
MBIO 2500 Oceanography/Lab (4 credits)
PHYS 2350 General Physics I/Lab (4 credits)
PHYS 2360 General Physics II/Lab (4 credits)

Major Grouped Electives (19–25 credits)

Group I: Classroom based (6–8 credits)
Select 6-8 credits from the following courses:
BIOL 2250 The Natural History of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park (3 credits)
BIOL 3320 Anatomy and Physiology I/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3330 Anatomy and Physiology II/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3400 Microbiology/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 4340 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
CHEM 2200 Essentials of Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
CHEM 3650 Biochemistry/Lab (4 credits)
SCIE 3210 History of Science (3 credits)
Any TECH/CSIS course (3 credits)

Group II: Required field component (7 –9 credits)
Select 7-9 credits from the following courses:
MBIO 3350 Gulf Stream Ecology (3 credits)
MBIO 3650 Marine Vertebrates (3 credits)
MBIO 3700 Biology of Fishes/Lab (4 credits)
MBIO 3750 Coral Reefs and Coral Communities (3 credits)
MBIO 3900 Special Topics in Marine Science (3 credits)
SCIE 4490 Research Methods (3 credits)

Group III: Lab or field based (6 –8 credits)
Select 6-8 credits from the following courses:
BIOL 2950 Field Study at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park (3 credits)
ENVS 3170 Everglades Ecology and Conservation (3 credits)
MBIO 2910 Introductory Marine Biology Field Topics (1–3 credits)
MBIO 4220 Ecology of the Great Barrier Reef (3 credits) AND MBIO 4221 Ecology of the Great Barrier Reef Field Trip (1 credit) Both of these classes must be taken for Group III credit.
MBIO 4230 Belize Reef Ecology (3 credits)
MBIO 4260 Ecology of the Galapagos Islands (3 credits) AND MBIO 4261 Ecology of the Galapagos Islands Field Trip (1 credit) Both of these classes must be taken for Group III credit.
MBIO 4350 The Biology and Ecology of the Manatee (3 credits)
MBIO 4910 Advanced Marine Biology Field Topics (1–3 credits)
SCIE 4990 Independent Study in Science (1–12 credits)

The academic program and curriculum requirements listed on this page are from the 2009-2010 edition of the NSU Undergraduate Student Catalog. Students are bound by policies and curricula published in the catalog in effect the semester they enter the university, unless an agreement is made with appropriate NSU administration officials allowing them to abide by policies published in a later catalog.